Contents

Definition

Confirmation or verification of death is defined as deciding whether a person is actually deceased. Confirmation or verification of death can be undertaken by a registered nurse however, you must check your employer's policies to determine local agreements about the circumstances in which this can be done.

Principles of practice

When a patient dies, the nurse has a duty to inform the doctor who has been treating the patient, as the doctor is the only person authorised to certify the death.

In the event of an expected death the doctor may pre-arrange to be informed at another time. For example, when expected deaths occur at night, the doctor may be informed the following morning.

When discussion has taken place between the appropriate medical practitioner and nursing staff - and it has been agreed that further intervention would be inappropriate and death is expected to be imminent - designated registered nurses may confirm or verify the death. Providing the;

death is expected and not accompanied by any suspicious circumstances and it occurs in a private residence, hospice, residential home, nursing home, prison or hospital,

‘Do not attempt cardio-pulmonary resuscitation’ document is signed in line with current guidance,

death does not require reporting to the coronial service - NB. Local arrangements may be in place with the coroners in respect of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLs). If so these must be reflected in the organisations policies and covered in both the nurse confirmer\verifiers training and competency assessment

and

wherever possible the relatives should be made aware of the patient's deteriorating condition and of the patient's care plan

verification/confirmation is timely– within one hour in a hospital setting and within four hours in a community setting. This is an important stage in the grieving process for relatives and carers and also a key time for support.

These principles for practice can apply in any health care setting, in the NHS or independent sector. The registered nurse must be trained and deemed competent to confirm/verify the death, and there must be an explicit local policy in place which the nurse must check for specific details.

It is the right of the verifying nurse to refuse to verify death and to request the attendance of the responsible doctor / police if there is any unusual situation.

Responsibilities of the registered nurse

Experienced designated registered nurses have the authority to confirm death, notify the relatives, and arrange for last offices and the removal of the body to the mortuary or the appropriate funeral director. However, the nurse must check their employer's own policy on this area for specific details as applicable to their workplace.

Record keeping

Record keeping is an integral part of the process and there is an expectation that the nursing and medical records must reflect that the death is expected and that nurse verification/confirmation has been agreed. Records should also show details of the verification/confirmation of death, with the time, date and any other observations that were recorded in line with an identified protocol - whether in the NHS or independent sector. The time and date the doctor was informed must also be included.

Other considerations

If a patient's condition improves significantly following a decision that death is imminent, the appropriate medical practitioner should be consulted.

The registered nurse verifying/confirming death must also consider the health and safety of others to ensure they are protected, e.g. from infectious illness, radioactive implants and implantable devices.
You must check your employer's own policy on this area for specific details as applicable to your workplace.